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NOTE The following text is a quote: Third Man Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine in North Idaho Michael Ray Opland, 52, of Shoshone County, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to 188 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and failure to appear, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge also ordered Opland to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. Opland pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2009. Co-defendant Paul Dean Hartman, 44, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, had previously been sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Lynn B. Winmill in January 2010...

BELLEVUE – The FBI is investigating after envelopes containing white powder showed up in government offices from Seattle to Boise. In Bellevue, a building with offices of the Internal Revenue Service was evacuated around 12:30 p.m. A female worker said she opened an envelope in the mailroom and white powder "poofed" out. "One worker was directly exposed and another worker was close enough nearby to be concerned. We've taken both of them to the hospital," said Lt. Eric Keenan of the Bellevue Fire Dept. Federal and local investigators converged on the four-story building. While Port of Seattle bomb dogs searched...

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) -- A teen trying to rob an espresso stand in northern Idaho met his match in a gun toting barista. Police say the 17-year-old confronted Sunshine Espresso owner Michelle Cornelson with a gun Wednesday morning, demanding all her money. Cornelson has been hunting since she was a girl and says she remained calm as a customer pulled up to the other side of her kiosk in Coeur d'Alene (kohr duh-LAYN'), distracting the teen.

An Idaho pharmacist who wrestled down an armed robber was fired. A pharmacist who fought off an armed robber in Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho was awarded a special award from the city. But his award from his employer was termination because he fought and captured the robber. He chased an armed gunman who stole prescription medications, and was able to tackle him outside the store. He confronted the man who informed him he had a gun and started reaching for his pocket. But, the former college wrestler tackled him. As often happens, the robber accidentally dropped his gun....

A northern Idaho pharmacist who tackled a gun-toting robber and received a special award from the city of Coeur d'Alene has been fired for violating company policy. Jerry Gunderson says he was dismissed from the Shopko pharmacy ... A Shopko spokeswoman at the company's corporate office in Green Bay, Wis., declined to comment. Police arrested the man and Gunderson later received a Citizen Appreciation Award from city leaders.

A crowd estimated at up to 1,200 people has been waiting in the cold for former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to begin signing books at the Fred Meyer store in Coeur d’Alene. The first 700 people in line are being given wristbands that will guarantee a chance to have Palin sign up to two copies of her book, “Going Rogue.”Fred Meyer officials have begun to pass out the wristbands in preparation for the noon event. The first person in line, Mary Ann Porter, of Spokane, said she arrived at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Overnight temperatures plunged as low as 9...

Note: Photo and videos included. COEUR D'ALENE -- The Aryan Nations is experiencing an unwanted resurgence in North Idaho. SNIPPET: "However, a man named Paul Mullet claims he is going to bring the racist organization back." SNIPPET: "Mullet says he moved here from Ohio five months ago because North Idaho is the "last stand" for the Aryan Nations movement. Mullet says he's in the process of buying a large amount of land in the area." SNIPPET: "Monday's distribution of racist material in Spokane Valley's Trentwood neighborhood was the latest in a series of similar incidents. Aryan Nations literature has also...

Last night at a political rally in Coeur D' Alene, Idaho, I asked Vice President Cheney to autograph a large print of the now famous "Dear Jon Carry" sign. You can view it at http://www.boundarygop.org/